第18部分(第7/7 頁)

〃

She　gave　a　low　but　very　audible　drawn…out　sigh。　〃It's　as　good　a　day　as

any。〃

〃That's　my　girl！　I'll　call　you　with　the　details。　Okay？〃

〃You're　the　boss。〃

She　should　have　felt　victorious；　hanging　up　the　phone。　If　Ross　caved　in；

there　would　be　no　need　for　a　referendum　and　the　Rye　Beach　plex　would

be　built　on　an　environmentally　sound　plan。　How　much　better　could　things

be？

Tossing　her　hair　over　her　shoulder；　she　grabbed　her　now　empty　mug　and

stomped　through　the　living　room　into　the　kitchen；　where　she　poured　more

coffee　and　reached　for　the　sticky　bun　Lee　had　left。　That　was　when　she

spotted　the　open　door　to　his　office。

〃Lee！〃　She　burst　in；　rousing　her　partner　from　the　depths　of　a　thick

folder。　〃Lee；　you're　just　the　person　I　need。〃　So　much　for　gentlemen's

agreements。　Despite　what　she'd　told　Howard；　if　Lee　would　fill　in　for

her；　she　would　send　him　to　New　York。　She　could　play　just　as　dirty　as

Ross。

〃Umm？〃

〃I　need　you　to　fill　in　for　me　in　New　York　on　Wednesday。　Can　you　make

it？〃

He　was　shaking　his　head　before　she'd　even　finished。　〃I'll　be　in

Washington。　Why？　A　problem？〃

〃No。　Nothing　much。〃　She　mumbled　the　last　and　turned　away。

〃Chloe。　Get　back　here。　You'd　never　rush　in　asking　me　to　fill　in　for　you

for　nothing　much。〃　A　look　came　over　his　face。　〃Oh。〃　He　cleared　his

throat。　〃So　he　called　you；　too。〃

She　frowned。　〃Howard　called　you？〃

〃Ross　called　me。　I　think　his　offer　is　good。〃

〃Offer？　Ross？　What